Wilshere joined the Hammers on a free transfer from Arsenal this summer.
Former Arsenal and West Ham defender Nigel Winterburn has been quoted by the Evening Standard as applauding Jack Wilshere for joining the Hammers, and taking a pay cut to move across London.
The 26-year-old joined the Hammers after new Arsenal boss Unai Emery told the England international that his game time at The Gunners next season would be limited, if he chose to stay and sign a new deal.
He has signed a three-year deal with Manuel Pellegrini’s side, which is believed to be worth £100,000 a week (The Sun). The Evening Standard claim that Wilshere has taken a pay cut to move to West Ham.
Winterburn, who played for Arsenal before moving to the Hammers like Wilshere, says it is refreshing to see a player take a pay cut and prioritise football over money in a day and age where wages are such an important component of the game.
“It’s refreshing,” Winterburn said. “I would have loved him to stay but when you talk about players at big clubs being on the bench but not moving on because of the salary they are on, we are seeing a player here who is desperate to play.
“If he hadn’t had all the injuries he’s had he probably would have stayed and said ‘I’ll show you what I’m capable of doing, I’ll force my way into the team’ but when you have missed that amount of football you have to do something to get games.”
Wilshere is one of seven signings made by the Hammers this summer, after bringing in Lukasz Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Felipe Anderson, Fabian Balbuena and Andriy Yarmolenko.
It is not expected to be the end of the Hammers transfer business this summer, with the east Londoners still in need of another striker and perhaps cover for crocked playmaker Manuel Lanzini.
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